Kew murder: Man arrested in Estonia suspected of killing French filmmaker in London

Police to begin extradition proceedings

A man has been arrested in Estonia on suspicion of murder after a French filmmaker’s body was found in a shallow grave in southwest London.

The 32-year-old was detained in Tallinn at about 12.25pm on Wednesday on suspicion of killing Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, the Metropolitan Police said.

Ms Garcia-Bertaux was found dead in the garden of her home in Kew, in Richmond borough.

A post-mortem examination carried out on Saturday suggested she had been strangled.

Ms Garcia-Bertaux had been living in the Darell Road home since April 2018, and was reported missing after she did not turn up at work on Tuesday last week.

Her body was found in a shallow grave the following day, 6 March.

The Met said the man was being held at a police station in Estonia and that it would seek to begin extradition proceedings. He was detained after police and prosecutors issued a European arrest warrant.

In a statement, the force said: “Met homicide detectives have been working with Eurojust in the Hague and police colleagues in Europol to trace and detain the man sought in connection with the investigation.”

The detectives’ investigation “continues apace”, it added.

Officers asked anyone with information to call them on 101, or contact @MetCC on Twitter, quoting the reference CAD 4439/05MAR.

Alternatively, call investigators on 020 8721 4205, quoting Operation Ramah.